The backyard is the perfect place to be if you need a space to relax, a space that you can call your own away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. That said, nobody likes a dark and dreary backyard, especially once the sun goes down. Sure, you might have an outdoor floodlight above your back door, but that doesn’t exactly make for relaxing lighting.
Today, we’re here to help you transform your backyard into an enchanting oasis with some great DIY backyard lighting ideas. Don’t worry, because we’re here to provide you with 9 cheap DIY backyard lighting ideas that won’t break your bank.
We want to help you turn that dreary backyard into a beautiful sanctuary where everybody wants to go to relax, all without making you spending an arm and a leg. From twinkling fairy lights in glass bottles to whimsical Mason jar lanterns, we’re here to provide you with a variety of cost-effective DIY backyard lighting ideas, and hopefully at least one of them will suit your needs and preferences.
1. Fairy Lights in Bottles
If you have some old glass bottles that look nice and are in decent shape, they’ll make for perfect containers for some twinkling fairy lights. All you need to do is get your hands on some glass bottles, and it’s your choice whether you want them to match or you want them to be in various colors, sizes, and shapes.
If you want to make things whimsical and you like variety, we recommend going for bottles with different colors, as it will produce a pretty cool effect. You can then fill each bottle with a string of fairy lights, with the battery operated versions being best for this.
You can then arrange those fairy lights around the backyard or lounge area, hang them along your wall, or even tie them to some tree branches, to create a dreamy night time glow. Not only is this a great way to illuminate your backyard in a whimsical manner, but it also helps her cycle old materials, so you’re being eco-friendly in the process.
2. Mason Jar Lanterns
Speaking of glass, another great way to illuminate your backyard for a very low cost is by using Mason jars. Mason jars are really versatile, because they’re usually clear, made of glass, and quite durable too. This means that you can fill them with solar-powered lights, fairy lights, string lights, or even real candles. Watch this video where Love Crafted Decor uses real leaves and mason jars to create coold DIY lanterns.
Yes, real candles certainly make for a warm and inviting atmosphere, although you’ll have to keep buying new candles as they do run out.
You can place them all around your backyard as you see fit, you can hang them from hooks and branches, put them along your pathways, and place them on your table as centerpieces as well. The fact that Mason jar lights are so versatile makes them ideal for virtually any backyard and any type of setting.
3. Tin Can Lanterns
If you’re going for more of a rustic DIY appearance, and you don’t mind the look of metal, then you can always use some old cans and turn them into stylish lanterns. Of course, you probably want to take the labels off of those old cans, because lanterns made with cans that still have the label from the green beans on them won’t look so nice.
However, the really cool part about making tin can lanterns is that you can use a hammer and a nail, or any other such tools, to create designs on the surface. You can then put any kind of light or candle inside of the tin can, and the light will shine through the holes, and create patterns that will dance along the walls.
If you like the mix of a slightly industrial feel with a cool light show, and you don’t want to spend any money, then using your old cans is certainly a good choice here. That said, we recommend going with food cans, not those which soft drinks come in, as they are quite thin and fragile.
4. DIY Posts with String Lights
If you’re looking to create more of a full-scale setup, and you want to make a relaxing space for you and friends to enjoy, then making DIY posts with string lights spanned in between them is a great choice. Here, all you have to do is get yourself some wooden posts, which could be new, recycled, reused, or reclaimed, and then plant them in the ground.
You can plant them directly in the ground if you see fit, although for a more permanent installation, making a concrete base for each pole is recommended.
Once you’ve chosen the spacing and positioning for the poles, you can then string up lights and connect them to each of the poles. A good idea might be to create a large rectangle and then put a nice picnic table in the middle of it, thus creating a relaxing atmosphere to have a night time dinner in.
5. Paper Bag Lanterns
If you’re on a super tight budget, and you’d really rather not spend much money, making paper bag lanterns is a great choice. What’s cool about paper bag lanterns is that not only are they very cost effective, but also versatile.
The reason we say this is because you can cut any kind of shape or pattern into a paper bag. You can then put an LED light or an artificial candle on the inside. The light will shine through the holes, create beautiful patterns on the wall, and dance all night long.
If you want to have a quiet evening or an intimate gathering, and you don’t mind having some extremely creative DIY crafts as your centerpiece, then this is always a good option.
6. Glow-in-the-Dark Paint
Using glow in the dark paint to create an illuminated backyard is certainly one of the more creative ideas on our list today. Glow in the dark paint comes in all sorts of colors, so you can create any kind of atmosphere that you see fit.
Whether you like a gentle glow that mimics a beautiful sunrise or you enjoy bright and vivid colors that mimic being at a dance club or a rave, the possibilities are nearly endless with glow in the dark paint.
Glow in the dark paint works by absorbing sunlight during the day, holding on to it, and then releasing it during the night. You can use it to paint walkways, planters, stones, and virtually anything in between. It’s also a good choice because it makes for a fun project to do with the whole family, especially if you have kids.
7. Solar Path Lights
If being sustainable and eco-friendly is one of your primary goals, then using solar lights is your best bet. Simple solar path lights are ideal for lighting up garden pathways, backyard paths, driveways, and backyards in general. You can also use them to illuminate garden beds to add a bit of style and focus to a backyard.
Solar lights are not only great because they’re eco-friendly, but they’re also ideal because you don’t need any kind of wiring. Not using electricity also makes them very eco-friendly. Just to make sure that you live in an area that gets plenty of sunlight during the day, or else your solar lights won’t function as well as you’d like them to when the sun goes down.
8. DIY Twine Lights
Here we have another super creative idea for DIY backyard lighting, with DIY twine lights being the perfect choice for you and your kids to create together. Here, you’re going to inflate a bunch of balloons to the desired size.
We recommend inflating the balloons to all sorts of sizes, and even buying ones that have different shapes, as this will allow for a good deal of variety. Take your balloons and then wrap them in twine that is soaked in glue. You need to let the glue dry, and once it has, you can pop the balloons and remove the rubber from inside of the twine.
What you should be left with are delicate and whimsical-looking twine spheres of all shapes and sizes. You can then take LED lights or fairy lights and place them inside of these fears, collectively creating orbs of light fit for a fairy Kingdom. You can hang them above your dining area, from trees, and anywhere else you see fit.
9. Outdoor Chandelier
If you want to create more of a formal atmosphere, you can always take an old chandelier and transform it into a stunning outdoor lighting feature. Get an old chandelier, whether it’s from your house, from a thrift store, or anywhere else, and refurbish it. This could mean grinding off some rust and repainting it, or if you like a more rustic appeal, leave it as is.
If you really want to, and you have the expertise, you could always wire it, although an electrician might be better for this. That said, having to deal with electricity and wiring might be a bit too much for you, in which case you can use candles or solar lights instead of traditional bulbs. It’s easier because it doesn’t require electricity, and you will be more eco-friendly too.
A nice DIY backyard chandelier adds an element of romance and sophistication to any area, and it’s a great way to repurpose something old into something useful.
Final Thoughts
These DIY backyard lighting ideas are not only cost effective, but they also provide you with an opportunity to personalize an outdoor space any way you see fit. Whether you’re trying to set the mood for a romantic and quiet evening with a loved one, or you want to throw the best party with your friends imaginable, the lighting solutions we’ve talked about today can provide you with the perfect ambience.
Jamie is the founder of The Backyard Pros. When he was 15 years old he started working at a garden centre helping people buy plants, gardening products, and lawn care products. He has real estate experience and he is a home owner. Jamie loves backyard projects, refinishing furniture, and enjoys sharing his knowledge online.